While headlines have focused on the possibility of changing long-standing email addresses, experts say the more consequential change involves artificial intelligence integration, affecting Google’s 2 billion users worldwide, according to a report in Forbes.

The tech giant’s Gemini AI is being woven more deeply into Gmail, offering features such as composing, replying, summarising, and smart searching through inboxes.

“There’s a lot going on in AI these days,” Gmail’s Vice President of Product, Blake Barnes, said in a YouTube short on Tuesday. “Sometimes it might even feel overwhelming.”

Gmail has long been valued for convenience, scale, and integration with Google’s broader ecosystem, though it has not been regarded as a leader in privacy or security.

While spam and malware filters are effective, they are not infallible, and privacy concerns persist.

Gemini introduces new trade-offs. Barnes emphasised that the AI does not train on user emails, but users must weigh the implications of allowing cloud-based AI to access potentially sensitive data.

“Think about Gemini as a personal and proactive assistant that comes to you,” he said.

“It’s like inviting Gemini into a private room with your inbox; when you’re done, Gemini leaves, and all information evaporates. Gemini doesn’t learn your secrets.”

Google has denied reports that Gmail users are automatically enrolled in AI data training.

However, new Gemini features are likely to be enabled by default, meaning users will need to actively choose how much AI interaction they allow with their inboxes.

“You place a ton of trust with Gmail with your personal information,” Barnes said.

“It’s our responsibility to provide the tools to help you manage it effectively.”

Experts warn that users should carefully consider their AI settings, noting that once AI features are enabled, fully removing them can be challenging.